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Acton home destroyed in fire

ACTON -- A family of seven is being assisted by the American Red Cross of Eastern Massachusetts after a 3-alarm fire devastated their Acton home on Sunday afternoon.

Acton firefighters were called to 6 Knowlton Drive at 2:44 p.m., when a next-door neighbor called 911 to report a fire in a two-story home.

Deputy Fire Chief Robert Hart said crews arrived to find black smoke and flames coming out of the rear of the single-family home. Firefighters quickly learned no one was home at the time of the fire. No injuries were reported.

The fire was under control within an hour, but not before a rear porch had to be pulled down with an excavator to make the scene safe, according to Hart.

The cause remains under investigation.

Firefighters from Concord, Littleton, Boxboro and Westford were among those from nine towns who provided mutual aid.